BIOLOGY 221 - INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY I
"Lower Invertebrates"
SPRING 2010
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Instructor: Stephen M. Shuster
Office: BS 302
Office Hrs: Tuesday and Thursday 11:00-12:00
Phone: 523-9302, -4641, -2381; Email:
Website:
College: Engineering and Natural Science; Department: Biological Sciences
Prerequisites:Sophomore standing and BIO 181-182, orconsent of instructor.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This4-credit courseincludes lecture(CHM 113, TTh 09:35-10:50) and laboratory components (W 1:00-3:50 or 4:10-7:00). It isasurveyofthe"lowerinvertebrate"phyla(Poriferathrough Chordata, including Blastocoelomates),usingselected taxa to illustrate concepts in evolution,systematics,physiology, morphology, lifehistory,ecologyandbehavior.Notethat"lowerinvertebrates"(as opposed to "higher invertebrates," that is, Brachiopoda through Arthropoda) refers inthis courseneithertorelativecomplexitynor similarity tovertebratesfortheorganismin question. Instead,thesetermsreferto the apparentorderinwhichataxonomicgroup appearstohavearisen over evolutionary time within the Kingdome wecallAnimalia. Using this convention, vertebrates and their chordate relatives are indeed "lower invertebrates." Lectureswillconcentrateonorganizingandinterpretinginformationabout invertebrate animals to illustrate (1) evolutionary relationships within and among taxa, and(2)adaptationsthat permit species to inhabit particular environments. Laboratorieswill providelivingandpreservedexamplesoftaxadescribedinlectureandinreading assignments,aswellasexperimentalproceduresthatwillpermitstudentstoexplore invertebrateorganizationandbodyfunction.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Thetwoprimaryobjectivesofthiscoursearetoprovidestudentswith(1)an understandingoftheconceptualframeworkthat unifiesbiologicalscience,and(2)an appreciationfor the diversity and abundance of a group of organisms thatcomprisesover 95%ofthe animal species on Earth.These two objectives are emphasizedbecause(a)a conceptualunderstandingof biological science is fundamental to creativethoughtinthis field,and(b)thediversity of invertebrate species providesexcellentexamplesofthese centralprinciples. Anunderstandingofthisframeworkwillpermitstudentsto comprehend(and proposetheirown)scientificexplanationsforthedistribution, abundanceand diversity of invertebrates species.Description and classification ofspecies canthenbecomean exercisein scientific exploration,ratherthansimplyoneofrote memorization.
COURSE APPROACH:
Classmeetings(inCHM 113,TTh09:35-10:50)willconsistoflectures bythe instructor, combinedwithaudio-visualmaterialsrelatingtocurrentlecturetopics.Studentswillbeexpectedtopreparefor lecturesbyreadingfromrequiredtextsand primaryliterature available on Reading in the library.The laboratory (in BS 146, W1:00-3:50or4:10-7:00)willconsistof displaysofpreservedorliveinvertebrates,hands-on inspectionanddissectionofpreservedspecimens, andfieldtripstolocalinvertebrate habitats for instruction in observational and collection techniques.
OFFICE HOURS
Studentsareencouragedto make use of theinstructor'sandteachingassistant's officehours.The pace and volume of information introduced in this course makes iteasy
to get behind.If you even begin to feel overwhelmed, do not hesitate to get some help.
TEXTBOOKS AND REQUIRED MATERIALS:
1. Brusca, R. C. and G. J. Brusca.2003. Invertebrates, 2nd ed., Sinauer Assoc., N.Y. (required).
2. Reading readings (available on the class website, ; required).
3. Biology 221 Laboratory Manual, Spring 2010 (available at University Bookstore, requied)
4. Brusca, R. C. 1980. Common Intertidal Invertebrates of the Gulf of California.Univ. of Arizona Press. (optional; this book is currently out of print; you may special order a xerox copy from the UofA press for approximately $75).
5. BIO 221 Dissection kits (available in the NAU Bookstore; required, ask for them by name).
6. Laboratory notebook (looseleaf binder with white, unlined paper; required)
EVALUATION:
Examinations:
Thelectureportionofthecoursewillrequiretwolectureexamsgivenduring lectureperiods,anda final exam at the end of the semester.Eachlectureexamwillbe worth100points, the final exam is worth 200 points.You must take ALL oftheseexams (see Make-up below).
Laboratory:
The laboratory portion of the course will require two, one-hour practical exams and a final practical exam at the end of the semester.As with the lecture exams, you musttake ALLoftheseexams.Each laboratory (excluding weekswithscheduledfieldtrips;see syllabus)will begin with a 10-point quiz covering material from the previous as well asthe presentlaboratory.Othercredit given in laboratory will beexplainedinthelaboratory manual.All lecture and laboratory exams will be comprehensive. You areresponsiblefor all information presented in each part of this course.
Total points for the course will be allocated as follows:
Lecture exam points400
Laboratory points350
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750 total points
Gradeswillbeassignedbyone of two criteria.Themostrigorousoneisona straightscale: 90% -100% of the total points = A; 80%-89% = B; 70%-79% = C;60%-69% =D;59%orlower= F.The less rigorous criterion willbebasedonthehighestscore receivedbyastudentin the class.That score will beconsidered"100%"andalllower scoreswillbe adjusted to that scale.In cases in which students' total scoresareextremely close to the next higher score (e.g., within 1.0 point), grades may be adjusted to account for enthusiastic class participation.All other adjustments will not be considered.
Make-up Exams, Attendance and Cheating:
Studentswillnotbeallowedtoretakeexaminationsunderanycircumstances.Studentsmaytake an exam in advance of the exam date if they know theywillbeabsent.
However,such arrangements must be made at least one week in advance ofthescheduled
exam.Ifan exam is missed, students must be able to document theirreasonsformissing theexam, and only extreme catastrophes will be considered as valid excuses.Only thenwill the exam be dropped from the student's total score.Car trouble is not an excuse because taxis are available inFlagstaff.All other missed examswillbecountedaszero towardthestudent's total score.Regular attendance is stronglyrecommendedgiventhe amountofmaterialintroducedonlyinclass.To excelinthisclassyouwillneedto understand, integrate and apply information from lecture, laboratory and reading material.
Academichonestyisthe ONLY policy in this course.Evidenceofplagiarismor cheating is justification for failure on an exam, expulsion from the course, and dismissalfrom the University, as stated in the Departmental policy for cheating and plagiarism (available in theDepartmentalOffice).CHEATINGISASERIOUSACADEMICOFFENSE!EXPECT NO LENIENCY WHATSOEVER!If you have any questions, see your instructor during office hours.
Additional syllabus information for Northern Arizona University is available at:
COURSE OUTLINE
Invertebrate Zoology I – Spring 2010
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Suggested
WKDateLecture TopicReading *Laboratory of the Week
101/12Introduction, Biological ScienceCh. 1, Reading #1Laboratory techniques
01/14Selection, Evolution
201/19Phylogenetic SystematicsCh. 2, Reading #2Phylogenetic Systematics
01/21Phylogenetic Systematics
301/26Animal ArchitectureCh. 3, Reading #3Porifera
01/28Porifera ICh. 6, 7
402/02Porifera IIReading #4Practical Exam I
02/04Porifera III/Review
502/09Exam ICnidaria I
02/11Cnidaria ICh. 8, Reading #5
602/16Cnidaria IIReading #6Cnidaria II
02/18Cnidaria III
702/23Cnidaria IVReading #7Field Trip to Mexico
02/25Video: Secrets of the Ocean RealmCh. 9
803/02CtenophoraCh. 4, Reading #8Free-living Platyhelminthes
03/04Metazoan DevoEvoCh. 24
903/09Platyhelminthes ICh. 10, Reading #9Practical Exam II
03/11Platyhelminthes II
1003/15 – 3/19Spring Break
1103/23Platyhelminthes III/ReviewParasitic Platyhelminthes
03/25Exam II
1203/30NemerteaCh. 11Echinodermata I
04/01Echinodermata ICh. 22, Reading #10
1304/06Echinodermata IIEchinodermata II
04/08Echinodermata III(KS)Reading #11
1404/13Echinodermata IVCh. 23Blastocoelomates
04/15Other Deuterostomes
1504/20Blastocoelomates ICh. 12;Reading #12Laboratory Review
04/22Blastocoelomates II
1604/27Blastocoelomates IIIFinal Practical Exam
04/27Course Overview
1705/06Final Exam: 7:30-9:30
* Chapters in Brusca and Brusca; Reserve Readings available on course website